The Maoists, MJF and UML scrambled to finalise their ministerial lineup ahead of a cabinet meeting on Friday before Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's departure for the Olympics.

The division of the portfolios were agreed in a three-party meeting, and the individual party candidates were finalised in separate meetings with the UML and MJF. The Maoists had earlier come up with their ministers.

At press time on Thursday evening, these were the names of the new ministers:

RAM BAHADUR THAPA DEFENCE, CPN(M)	BAM DEB GAUTAM HOME, UML	BABU RAM BHATTARAI FINANCE, CPN(M)	DEB GURUNG LAW, CPN(M)
BISHNU POUDEL UML	RAM CHANDRA JHA UML	UPENDRA YADAV MJF	KRISHNA B MAHARA CPN(M)
BHIM RAWAL UML	BIJAYA GACHHEDAR MJF	PAMPHA BHUSAL CPN(M)	BARSHA MAN PUN CPN(M)
TOP B RAYMAJHI CPN(M)		JAIPURI GHARTI CPN(M)